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Oprah helps sister from Milwaukee reach 'greatest dream'

George Burns

Oprah Winfrey greets her half sister Patricia on an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that aired Monday, Jan. 24, 2011. On the show, Winfrey explained how the woman’s years-long search for her family culminated in a meeting with Winfrey on Thanksgiving Day 2010.

Oprah Winfrey has been quietly aiding her younger half sister from Milwaukee, Patricia Lofton, paying for her education and, according to multiple reports, even buying her a new $490,000 house in Wisconsin, People.com reports.

It's part of Winfrey's effort to help Lofton reach one of her lifetime goals, Winfrey's spokesperson told People: "Patricia's greatest dream was to go to college and become a social worker. Oprah wants to support that dream."

Winfrey disclosed in 2011 that she had a half sister she didn't know about, calling it "one of the greatest surprises of my life."

About Chris Foran

Chris Foran is an assistant entertainment editor, overseeing the Tap Weekend, Tap Daily, Good Morning and TV Cue sections. He also writes about movies, books, pop culture and fun stuff to do in Milwaukee.